Electric hair straightening and waving iron

ABSTRACT

An electric hair straightening/waving iron includes a handle, a first elongate heating member extending from the handle and having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and a second elongate heating member having a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion. The proximal end portion of the second heating member is attached pivotally to the proximal end portion of the first heating member. A locking mechanism at the distal end portions of the first and second heating members selectively locks the first and second heating members alongside one another, and releases the second heating member for pivotal movement relative to the first heating member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair straightening and waving irons.More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates tohair straightener having a simple release mechanism allowing separationof its heating members for changing the device from a wavingconfiguration to a hair straightening configuration.

Known electric hair straightening/waving irons such as the one disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,462 have a pair of heating members pivotallyassociated with one another, with a handle extending from one of themembers and a waving clamp pivotally attached to the other member. Alocking device for holding the two members against one another for useof the device as a hair waver is provided alongside the pivot joint.While this provides a convenient location for single-handed holding ofthe device by its handle and manipulation of a lock release activatornear the pivot joint, the arrangement applies locking forces too closeto the pivot joint to be regarded as being mechanically ideal. It couldperhaps be likened to a door having a lock at its hinge side rather thenat its free side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantiallyameliorate the above disadvantage.

There is disclosed herein an electric hair straightening/waving iron,comprising:

a handle,

a first elongate heating member extending away from the handle andhaving a distal end portion and a proximal end portion,

a second elongate heating member having a distal end portion, and aproximal end portion attached pivotally to the proximal end portion ofthe first heating member, and

a locking mechanism at the distal end portion of the first and secondheating members for selectively locking the first and second heatingmembers alongside one another, or releasing the second heating memberfor pivotal movement.

Preferably, the locking mechanism comprises a slider mounted to movelongitudinally upon the distal end portion of the first or secondheating members and interacting with the distal portion of the otherheating member.

Preferably, the slider has a projecting tab and the said other distalportion comprises a lip under which the tab is received to lock theheating members alongside one another.

Preferably, the heating elements are hemi-cylindrical in form and theslide is also hemi-cylindrical in form.

Preferably, the iron further comprises a spring-loaded waving clampattached pivotally to and extending alongside the second heating member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of an electric hairstraightening and waving iron in a hair waving configuration,

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of the electric hairstraightening and waving iron in a hair straightening configuration,

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional elevation of the electric hairstraightening and waving iron in the configuration of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional elevation of the electric hairstraightening and waving iron in the configuration of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a detailed cross sectional elevation of the locking mechanismof the iron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a hairwaving/straightening iron 10. Iron 10 comprises a handle 11 from thebase of which a power cord 12 extends to a wall socket. Formed togetherwith a and extending from the handle 11 is a first elongate heatingelement 13 a in the form of a hemi-cylindrical barrel. A second elongateheating element 13 b, also in the form of a hemi-cylindrical barrel, isattached pivotally at its proximal end to the handle. Both the first andsecond heating elements have flat hair-straightening ironing surfaces 15that face one another in close proximity when the second heating memberis closed down toward the first heating member.

A hair waving clamp 14 is attached pivotally to the second elongateheating member. A clamp trigger 17 is formed integrally with the clamp15 and extends rearward from the pivot point toward the handle end ofthe iron. A torsion spring 22 is located under the trigger 17 tomaintain a clamping force between the clamp 14 and the second heatingbarrel. A power switch 21 is located upon the handle 11 for applyingelectric current from the cord 12 to the heating elements.

At the distal end of the first heating element 13 a, there is a fixednon-heated tip 23. A recess 19 is provided in the upper surface of thefixed tip. The recess has a lip as best depicted in FIG. 3.

At the distal end of the second heating element 13 b, there is provideda locking barrel 16 that is supported upon the heating element so as tobe able to slide therealong as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. Thelocking barrel is located and travel-limited by a buffer 27. A lockingtab 18 is fitted below the barrel and has an elbow which can fit underthe lip of the recess 19 in order to lock the two heating memberstogether. The outer surface 24 of the locking barrel is corrugated toprovide good grip. A spring plate 25 is provided between the barrel 16and the locking tab 18 and has a small bump that provides a tactile“click” as it slides onto one of two small detents 26 of the tab 18.

By having the locking mechanism provided at the distal ends of theheating members, simple light weight locking engagement components canbe employed as little resistance to opening of the two heating membersneed be provided as compared to the prior art devices in which stronglocking parts must be provided nearby the pivot point to counteract highmoments that might be exerted thereon in use.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious tothose skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope ofthe present invention. For example, the particular sliding arrangementof the locking components can be changed and indeed non-slidingarrangements such twisting, or turning locking arrangements can beprovided instead.

1. An electric hair straightening/waving iron, comprising: a handle, afirst elongate heating member extending away from the handle and havinga distal end portion and a proximal end portion, a second elongateheating member having a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion,the proximal end portion being attached pivotally to the proximal endportion of the first heating member, and a locking mechanism at thedistal end portions of the first and second heating members forselectively locking the first and second heating members alongside oneanother, and releasing the second heating member for pivotal movement,relative to the first heating member.
 2. The iron of claim 1, whereinthe locking mechanism comprises a slider mounted to move longitudinallyupon the distal end portion of one of the first and second heatingmembers and interacting with the distal portion of the other of thefirst and second heating members.
 3. The iron of claim 2, wherein theslider moving upon the distal end portion of one of the first and secondheating members has a projecting tab and the portion of the other of thefirst and second heating members comprises a lip under which the tab isreceived to lock the first and second heating members alongside oneanother.
 4. The iron of claim 2, wherein the heating elements arehemi-cylindrical in form and the slider is also hemi-cylindrical inform.
 5. The iron of claim 4, further comprising a spring-loaded wavingclamp attached pivotally to and extending alongside the second heatingmember.